Bowling ball grip-measuring device



Apnl 7, 1959 R. s. FLEMING BOWLING BALL GRIP-MEASURING DEVICE Filed Dec.24. 1957 INVENTOR. Roa /er J fifM/NG Arron/Er United States PatentBOWLING BALL GRIP-MEASURING DEVICE Robert S. Fleming, Pompton Plains,NJ., assignor to Amerace Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation ofDelaware Application December 24, 1957, Serial No. 704,916

' Claims. 01. 33-174 The present invention relates to a bowling ballgripmeasuring device, and more particularly to a device which, in itsassembled and operative arrangement, simulates a standard bowling balland yet which has a plurality of separate and relative adjustable partsso arranged that difierent combinations of thumb and finger holes may bepositioned in various relations to each other, so that a person seekingto purchase a bowling ball and to have it drilled to accommodate thatparticular persons hand, may experiment with an almost infinite numberof combinations of sizes and relative positions of finger and thumbholes so as to ascertain exactly what relationship and combination ofthese holes are desired for his or her own personalized bowling ball.

, As such, the present invention is an improvement upon the HandMeasuring Device set out in the patent to last et al. No. 2,703,934issued March 15, 1955. In this patented device, as in the presentapplication, there is a three-part or three-section-typeapparatussimulating a bowling ball, the outer two sections of whichcomprise segments of spheres. One of these segments has a plurality ofdilferent size thumb holes therein and the other a plurality of pairs ofdifferent size finger holes therein. These two thumb and fingerhole-provided spherical segments may be relatively adjusted with respectto each other and with respect to a third or central section which is soconstructed and arranged that the outer spherical segments may beadjustable with respect thereto about axes which are at an angle to eachother, so that the spacing between finger and thumb holes, even afterthe size of each has been selected, may be .varied as desired toaccommodate all possible spacings which are usable in practice.

In the patented device aforesaid a separate securing means is used forsecuring the center wedge-shaped section to each of the outer orspherical segment sections respectively, so that there are two separateand distinct locking means used in this device.

The present invention has for its object to provide a simpler embodimentof the device disclosed in the last et al. patent, in that the centralsection is made hollow, as in a split ring, having a substantiallyspherical outer contour; and means are provided for so securing the endsof the split ring with respect to each other that this split ring, whichhas interengaging flange portions with each of the other portions orsections, will be caused to engage and lock with respect to both outersections by a single locking means. This single locking means in thepresent embodiment of this invention is preferably arranged to bedisposed, at least in its locked position, in a suitable recessaccessible from the outside, so that the device as a whole, when in anoperative position, has a substantially uninterrupted spherical outercontour and could,'if desired, be actually used as a bowling ball andbowled on a conventional bowling alley.

Other and more detailed objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following descripas shown.

tion of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, showing the entire device in an assembledand operative position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device, takensubstantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating particularly thesingle locking means for the device and taken substantially on the line33 of Fig. 1, with the locking means in its locked or operativeposition; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but with thelocking means in its released position.

Turning now to the accompanying drawings, the device of the presentinvention includes a substantially spherical segment section 10 having aplurality of different size thumb holes 11 therein and a substantiallysimilar spherical segment section 12 having a plurality of pairs ofdifferent size finger holes 13 therein. A third or central sectiongenerally indicated at 14, which is arranged with locking meanshereinafter described, completes the overall combination of the device.Each-of the outer sections 10 and 12 has a spherical outer contour andalso has an annular (circular) groove 15 adjacent to the peripheral edgeof the spherical surface thereof. The central section 14 is shownprovided with a pair of flanges 16 interengaging with the groove 15 Fromanother point of view, it may be said that the outer sections 10 and 12are provided with flange portions shown at 17 bounding the grooves 15and interengaging with the flanges 16. The inner surfaces of the outersections 10 and 12 may be formed as shown as planiform surfaces 18 and19. However, the

- In the form of the invention shown, when the central section 14 isunlocked as hereinafter set out, it will be' sufliciently free and thegap or space 20 sufficiently wide shape or conformation of these innersurfaces is of no import, as it is necessary merely that they will notengage with one another and that'they will not interfere with thesubstantially'free adjustive movement between each of the outer sections10 and 12 respectively and the central section 14.

The central section 14 is formed as shown substantially as a split ringwith the ends thereof spaced apart by a predetermined relatively smalldistance as shown at 20.

so that each of the outer sections 10 and 12 may be freely rotatablyadjusted with respect to the central sec-' tion 14. At the same time,the interlock between the flanges 16 and 17, or in other words, thedepth of the grooves 15 with respect to the depth of the flanges 16, issuflicient, so that even when the central section 14 is at its usualunlocked position (Fig. 4), inadvertent bodily disassembly as betweenthe central section 14 and the outer sections 10 and 12 will beprevented, even though the outer sections are freely rotatablyadjustable with respect to the central section 14 under thesecircumstancesi In the embodiment of the invention shown, with thecentral section 14 embracing portions of the outer sections 10 and 12,the tightening together of the open ends of the central section will beeffective to lock this central section simultaneously to both outersections. For this purpose, the central section is formed near its endswith recesses 21 and 22, and those ends, formed with walls 23 and 24,which are generally parallel to one another and in part bound theserecesses respectively. The walls 23 and 24 are provided with alignedapertures, through which a' bolt 25 extends, this bolt being provided asshown with a pair of lock nuts 26 on its right hand end (as seen inFigs. 3 and 4) and being" locking means as between the unlocked positionof the parts shown in Fig. 4 and the locked position of the parts shownin Fig. 3. There is also shown in these figures a washer 30 between thelocknuts and the wall 23 and a washer 31 between the wall 24 and the camsurface 29 at the end of the lever 27. The washer 31 acts as an abutmentagainst which the cam surface 29 engages in locking the open ends of thecentral section 14 together. It is further to be noted that at thelocked position at the parts shown in Fig. 3, the lever 27 is locatedcompletely within the recess 22, so as not to interfere with orinterrupt the spherical outer contour of the device as a whole.

It is contemplated, for example, that other types of interengagingflange means may be employed in the construction of the central section14 and the outer sections and 12 and that such other interengagingflange means should be considered within the purview of the presentinvention. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a bolt-like element,equivalent to the bolt 25, could be secured rigidly in one of theabutting ends of the split ring-type central section 14, eliminating thenecessity of using the lock nuts 26 as well as eliminating therequirement for a wall as 23 and a recess as 21. Under suchcircumstances the parts could be assembled in a suitable way, forexample, by threading a bolt-like element, equivalent to the bolt 25,into a threaded opening formed in a part of the central section 14itself corresponding in position to the Wall 23.

In any event, there is provided, according to the present invention, asingle and relatively simple locking means for simultaneously causingthe central section to lock with the two outer sections and for securingany adjustment as made.

In practice it may be found convenient to number the thumb holes and theseveral pairs of finger holes and further to provide graduations,preferably suitably numbered, around the periphery of the centralsection 14. Inasmuch as all such means are considered to be obvious tothose skilled in the art, as they form per se no necessary part of thepresent invention, they have not been illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

While there is herein shown and described but one particular embodimentof the invention and equivalents of various features thereof have beenpointed out as the description proceeded, other equivalents will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. Ido not wish to be limited, therefore, except by the scope of theappended claims, which are to be construed validly as broadly as thestate of the prior art permits.

What is claimed is:

1. A bowling ball grip-measuring device, comprising two outer sectionsand a central section, which when assembled together make up asubstantially spherical body simulating a standard bowling ball; each ofsaid outer sections having a substantially spherical surface and asubstantially planiform surface, and said central section being soshaped with a spherical portion of varying widths that the planiformsurfaces of said outer sections are at an angle to one another when allsaid sections are assembled together; one of said outer sections havinga plurality of different size thumb holes therein, the other of saidouter sections having a plurality of pairs of diflerent size fingerholes therein; said central section being substantially hollow and beingformed substantially as a split ring with ends spaced a short distanceapart, a peripheral groove portion formed on each of said outer sectionsadjacent to the boundary between the spherical and planiforrn surfacesthereof, a pair of interlocking flange portions formed on said centralsection, the interlocking flange portions of said central sectionengaging the peripheral groove portions of said outer sectionsrespectively and so constructed and arranged that when said centralportion is at its loosened position, each of said outer sections may beindependently rotatively adjusted with respect thereto; and a singlemeans for simultaneously clamping said ends of said central sectiontogether and thereby causing said flange portions thereof tightly togrip both said outer sections, so as to hold all three sections of saiddevice in any adjusted position.

2. A bowling ball grip-measuring device according to claim 1, in whichsaid single means for clamping the ends of said central section togethercomprises a bolt extending through an aperture in a flange portion ofone of said ends, and means carried by said bolt for urging said endstogether and for holding them in a locked operative position. of thedevice; and in which said central section is provided with at least onerecess in which said means carried by said bolt is located in saidlocked operative position of the device, so as not to extend through thespherical outer contour of the device at said operative position of theparts thereof.

3. A bowling ball grip-measuring device according to claim 2, in whichsaid means carried by said bolt comprises a cam lever pivoted to saidbolt and effective by an over-center-throw action accompanying itsmovement into said recess to lock all the sections of said device insaid operative position.

4. A bowling ball grip measuring device, comprising two outer sectionsand a central section, which when assembled together in an operativeposition, make up a substantially spherical body simulating a standardbowling ball; each of said outer sections having an outer sphericalsurface portion and an annular flange portion bounding said sphericalportion, one of said outer sections having a plurality of different sizethumb holes therein, and the other of said outer sections having aplurality of pairs of diflerent size finger holes therein; said centralsection being formed as a hollow shell, split to provide two ends whichare spaced a short distance from each other, said central sectionfurther having flange portions shaped to interfit with said annularflange portions of said ,outer sections respectively and to grip saidouter sections, so as to prevent relative movement therebetweenwhen saidcentral section is forced to its locked and operative position,,theflange portions of said central section lying in planes which arenon-parallel and at a predetermined angleto each other in the operativeposition of all said sections; and a single locking means interengagingwith the ends of said central section for flexing it and forcing it toits locked and operative position and so as to cause the flange portionsthereof to grip both said outer sections in any adjusted position ofsuch outer sections respectively, said outer sections beingindependently rotatably adjustable with respect to said central sectionwhen said locking means is not at its locking position as aforesaid.

5. A bowling ball grip-measuring device in accordance with claim 4, inwhich said flange portions of said central section interfit with saidannular flange portions of said outer sections to an extent sufficient,even during the positions of the parts when said locking means is at itsunlocked position, that inadvertent bodily di'sassemblyas between saidcentral section and said outer sections respec-" tively will not occur,but relative rotative adjustive movement therebetween is freelypermitted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,453,036 Reitsma Nov. 2, 1948 2,703,934 Iast Mar. 15, 1955 2,733,515Lorenz Feb. 7, 1956

